Greetings everyone from Charles Watson Stadium on the outskirts of Conway. Quick update on Chuck … his wife called today and everything is going as planned, he’s home and recovering and will be back on the beat next week.

So that puts me back on the live blog tonight as the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks take on top-15 Coastal here. Coach Mark Scalf is going with Daniel Cropper again in the big midweek game. He started strong vs. East Carolina last week, had a little back issue and struggled from there in the team’s wild 15-13 victory in Greenville.

Shortstop Michael Rooney is the only Seahawk to start every game so far this season

COASTAL 20, UNCW 1 (FINAL) — The UNCW team ERA goes from 4.59 before the game to 5.05 afterward, after Seth Frankoff throws a 1-2-3 eighth for the Seahawks.

Grayson Evans’ 20-game hitting streak is gone after an 0-for-4 night with a pair of grounders to second base. UNCW was held hitless after Hunter Ridge’s double to lead off the fifth inning.

Off to talk with the Seahawks. This will be a most interesting set of interviews.

COASTAL 20, UNCW 1 (end of 7) — Brian Rhino — 3 batters: Walk, error by Cockman at 3rd through the wickets, hit batter on a full count pitch. You’re down 15 runs and you can’t find the zone. Seriously. Throw it over the plate. Tart and Rhino got absolutely run out there.

In the game vs. East Carolina, the middle of the relief corps did this as well — a complete and utter inability to find the plate. And, honestly, it’s probably pretty embarrassing for them.

I was never a pitcher when I played baseball so I have no idea what they’re doing right or wrong. But Jason Howell has got to figure this out, and soon.

UNCW is also forced to bring in Steven Davis, who most likely would have started tomorrow vs. Campbell. Davis gets a fly ball and a double play to end the inning, bringing claps of relief from the UNCW fans and a Bronx cheer from the Coastal fans.

COASTAL 16, UNCW 1 (bottom 7, 0 out) — 4 batters, 2 walks, two basehits just out of the reach of UNCW infielders off Blaze Tart. It’s been a lot of “just out of reach tonight” followed by Coastal showing why it’s in the top 15 in the country. UNCW wouldn’t have won this game tonight, but the 16 runs (and more to come, certainly, with the bases loaded and zero out) aren’t quite indicative of things. Either way, it’s becoming a nasty trend against the decent teams on the schedule.

COASTAL 15, UNCW 1 (end 6th) — Three home runs in the inning for the Chanticleers, and all of them were absolutely belted. Nos. 7-8 in the order off Timoney and Tyler Smith, then pinch-hitter Josh Conway finishes it with a two-run shot.

A lot was made of UNCW’s pitching depth this season, and the ERA is a middling 4.59 entering tonight (and rising). 10 times they have allowed three runs or less in a game, but this is the sixth time this season UNCW has allowed 10 or more runs. Obviously, that’s not getting it done.

COASTAL 12, UNCW 1 (bottom 6th, one out) — Tom Timoney is all over the place, single, hit batsman, wild pitch to the backstop, three-run homer by Chance Gilmore. That’ll do it for him. Feel bad for the decent amount of Seahawks fans that made the trip. Still time for a decent dinner if they leave now.

COASTAL 9, UNCW 1 (end 5th) — You stay classy, Coastal. Up eight runs with two outs in the inning, and Rico Noel is given the green light to steal second and third. Jesse Haney retires Iglesias for the first time today to end the inning, but if I were a manager, someone might get a ball right in the earhole.

COASTAL 9, UNCW 1 (middle 5th) — I think there is extra gravitational pull in the Coastal bullpen down the 1st-base line, because that’s the third ball in an inning that has ended up there. This one handed the Seahawks a run after another blunder. Hunter Ridge doubled to lead off the inning, then tried to take third on a grounder to short and was out by a mile.

I mean, that’s common baseball knowledge. that’s not taking a chance and getting nailed, which happens. That’s just dumb. Thankfully, the Chants give the run back after Hessler airmailed a throw on a bunt down the line.

COASTAL 9, UNCW 0 (end of 4) — A complete mental checkout here. Thanks for showing up, Seahawks. DeLoach has Bowman picked off first base to end the inning, and then throws the ball 3 feet over Hunter Ridge’s head at first to allow the runner to score from first base.

Yes, I’ve seen the Seahawks vs. the two best opponents on their schedule, and both on the road, but this is weak. This is supposedly a big game for them outside the conference, and they are in no way playing like it. 3 errors, all of them completely horrible.

Coastal has 11 hits, 10 of them singles.

COASTAL 6, UNCW 0 (bottom 4th, no out) — more of a mess. Hit batter, stolen base (cake against Harnage’s submarine delivery), sac bunt, bad throw by Stanley down the right field line, then Hill says it hits someone down in the Coastal bullpen, but the umpire tells him to keep playing, so Woodward goes all the way around to third. Bring in DeLoach.

Granted, I’ve only seen 2 games, but Harnage seems to be a one-batter kind of guy. Just my opinion.

COASTAL 5, UNCW 0 (end of 3) — Harnage picks Motter off first, but Rooney and Thielsen are late getting to the bag, so the base is stolen. But Hunter Ridge saves more damage but scooping out Michael Bass’ throw at first base to end the inning. Not a mentally sharp inning from the Seahawks, and the Chanticleers bury them with it.

COASTAL 5, UNCW 0 (bottom 3rd, two outs) — Bad luck early for Cropper — Iglesias’s flare to short left falls within 2 feet of Holt, Evans and Rooney to score the first two runs, and La Stella’s grounder to 2nd just tips off Thielsen’s glove for an infield single. But the rest was on him, as Rice hit the base of the wall for a double and Bowman followed with a two-run single. Three of Coastal’s last four hits in the inning came in 2-strike counts. And that’ll do it for him. Yuck. Andrew Harnage in.

UNCW 0, COASTAL 0 (middle 3rd) — UNCW is the first team to get a guy in scoring position, but Grayson Evans can’t extend his hitting streak in his second at-bat, striking out on three pitches.

It’s pretty much a full house here, with capacity at 2,000. Quite a few high school and junior league teams here, with kids on spring break; team shirts and hats completely giving them away.

UNCW 0, COASTAL 0 (middle 2nd) — Matt Holt gets a hit for the Seahawks. Coastal pitcher Keith Hessler tried picking Holt off several times … including one time where the throw over was fumbled down the first-base line toward the dugout — but Holt was called out. The umpire did change his mind, but if that’s where we’re going here tonight, expect another adventure in Conway. Yeesh.

Also, this is a nice little park. UNCW SID guru Tom Riordan says they keep building onto it year after year, adding little pieces to improve it. Although the retired number of Kirt Manwaring on the wall does throw you just a bit. Kirt Manwaring? Well, you take who you’ve got. Maybe John Raynor will get the same treatment once he stays on a Major League roster for a while.

UNCW 0, COASTAL 0 (end of 1st) — Harmless flare single for Iglesias for Coastal, but there are three flyball outs already. Cropper and Coastal’s Keith Hessler are pounding the zone early. Let’s hope that continues.

If you wan’t to be the best, You must beat the Best. These Kids have won against some good teams. If there is such a thing, The Chemistry is not right. There has to be trust. The Pitching staff has to step up. The Older Guys are serving it UP.

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About This Blog

Howdy. I’m sports editor Dan Spears, and I keep everything straightened up around here — with thoughts on pretty much anything to do with sports, both locally and nationally. I’ve been with the StarNews since August 2006, and sports editor since September 2008. I’m a big college basketball fan and have been to the first weekend of the NCAAs every year since 1997, either as a fan or a writer. I attempt to play golf, run marathons and play volleyball here in town at Capt’n Bill’s on Market Street. Enjoy reading, and let me know what you’re thinking … Dan